Frascati, Pope's summer residence & wine tasting FROM €360...

Cod. tour code: DE3

Tour description

Dear Guests,
This excursion day tour, has been designed for those who wish to enjoy, and discover the beautiful roman countryside at just 30 minutes from Rome.

The tour is conducted by an English speaking driver/escort, born and residing in the region of Rome and with an in-depth knowledge of history and features of the territory, ready to help you with the local language, advised and informed about local food, shopping and much more.

The driver will welcome you at your hotel or any other place of your convenience. There, in few minutes you will be driven along the Appian way, the queen of the Roman Roads, opened by the Roman Magistrate Appio Claudio Cieco in 312 a.c.
This enchanting way leads to the area to be visited, but only few miles away from Rome there will be the first stop: the visiting of Catacombs, which were the cemetery of early Christians. Sacred places with a vast network of underground subterranean galleries that criss- crossed and extended over several stories for kilometres. Niches an loculi were dug into both sides of the tunnels. The Catacomb were generally situated along the consular roads and far from the city walls. The entrance fee cost is 8€ and you will be guided by an English speaking tour guide from the catacomb department.

After the tour, you will visit again the Appian waynearby the famous villa belonged to the Emperor Maxentius as well as the tomb of his beloved and untimely death son Romulus. Along the road is found the tomb of Cecilia Metella, that is one of the biggest and best preserved of tombs lining the Appian way. It was built for Caecilia, daughter of Quintus Metellus Creticus and wife of Crassus, Caesar’s general during the campaign in Gaul. In the 13th century, it became a tower in the walls of the Caetani family Castle.

White wine and olive oil testing
On the way to Frascati, which is one of the several villages scattered all over the area called Roman Castles, you will have a little break for wine and olive testing organized by us. You have the chance to visit one of the most beautiful and famous vineyard of the site: Casale Marchese (www.casalemarchese.it). The owner, Alessandro, will lead you to the discovery of his fascinating 18th century farmhouse, composed by two separated wings: in one the family live while the other parties used for the processing of wine its bottling and packaging. Adjoining the wine cellar is the testing room, visited by tourists from all over the world. Adjacent to this is the farm’s oil-press, which guarantees superior quality oil.
(if Casale Marchese is not available, you will be taken to Santa Benedetta winery, which is of same quality-level.)

Frascati e Castel Gandolfo
Roman Castles, is the name attributed, during the middle ages, to the south cost region of Rome. At the time 13 villages were transformed in castles, by some Roman nobles families. Frascati and Castel Gandolfo are part of this famous region.Frascati is one of the most renowned castle-town and its name comes from a typical local tradition of collecting firewood (“frasche in Italian”). Many place-names around the town refer to trees or wood, or also from the branches which were used in the middle ages as a means to cover houses. Frascati is famous for its notable villas, which were built from the 16th century onwards by Popes, Cardinals and Roman nobles as “Status Symbols” of Roman Aristocracy.

These country houses were designed for social activities rather than farming. The main Villa, that dominates the town is villa Aldobrandini. A colourful street- market stands right in the middle of a central square and noteworthy is the nearby Cathedral of St. Peter Apostle. Originally designed by Ottaviano Mascherino and completed in 1598. A new high façade was added between 1698-1700 by Gerolamo Fontana. The Cathedral was demolished by bombing in 1943 and the reconstructed interior appear bore. On the inner side of the façade is the tombstone of Charls Edward Stuart.

Castel Gandolfo, recently voted as one of the most beautiful town in Italy, rises at the crest of the by now extinct Volcano, over looking the lake derived from it. The medieval town houses the very famous Pope’s summer residence, built by Carlo Maderno for Pope Urban VIII in 17th century. Walking down the narrow and fascinating street you will have the chance to visit the church built by Gianlorenzo Bernini and dedicated to St. Tommaso of Villanova with its beautiful cupola and the altarpiece by Pietro da Cortona. Gourmet, religious goods and souvenirs shops are very interesting.

We suggest wearing comfortable shoes and appropriate clothes for the visiting of churches, monuments and museums.

Rome-Limousines is not a travel agency but a fully licensed limousine company operating all around Italy and does not provide hotel reservation, ticket reservation nor anything else not stated in our service plans. It is a N.C.C. limo company providing sightseeing tours and driving services all over Italy respecting the law n.21 of January 15th 1992 about the "Noleggio con conducente".